India a two-stater, can act as bridge in peace efforts: Palestine amid rising regional tensions

Palestinian Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin - File Photo

Palestine’s Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian urged India to uphold international law and act as a diplomatic bridge in the Israel-Palestine conflict, highlighting India’s credibility, historic support, and humanitarian aid while stressing the need for a political solution.

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Palestine’s Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian has urged India to stand firmly with international law and play a constructive diplomatic role in efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and the wider Israel-Palestine crisis, saying New Delhi has the credibility to act as a bridge without sacrificing its ties with any side.

Speaking during her visit to New Delhi for the second India-Arab ministerial meeting, she underscored India’s historic position on Palestine and its growing relevance amid rising instability across West Asia, in an exclusive interview with India Today Global.

Aghabekian described India as a long-standing and trusted partner, stressing that its voice carries weight at a time when the prospects of a two-state solution are under strain. “India should stand with international law. India is a two-stater. India is the largest democracy. India believes in international law, and they should go by what international law says as it pertains to Israel and Palestine,” she was quoted by India Today Global.

The Palestinian minister acknowledged India’s close relationship with Israel but said this should not prevent New Delhi from supporting Palestinian statehood. “We have absolutely no problem with that. We do not want to delegitimise Israel, but we want to legitimise Palestine,” she said. “And when you are a friend you can be a bridge if you wish to take that.”

She also highlighted India’s continued humanitarian and development support to Palestine, calling it an important pillar of bilateral ties. “India has been a very good friend for decades, and it has helped with humanitarian assistance. It has helped a lot with development assistance, and we already have several projects in Palestine going on and we expect that to continue,” Aghabekian said.

Referring to India’s recent voting patterns at the United Nations, which have drawn attention amid the Gaza war, Aghabekian said she hoped New Delhi would align itself clearly with international legal rulings and declarations. She cited the 2024 International Court of Justice ruling and the New York Declaration as key frameworks for advancing Palestinian sovereignty and ending the occupation.

On India’s decision not to join the US-backed Board of Peace initiative, Aghabekian said participation in such platforms must be guided by each country’s principles and interests. “Each country is sovereign and they can decide on their own. If they see that that Board of Peace really meets their expectations, then they would join. If they do not, they would not join,” she said.

While noting that US President Donald Trump has influence over Israel, Aghabekian said any peace effort would fail unless Palestinians are directly involved in decision-making. “We are not a menu. We have to be around the table on the decision-making level,” she told India Today Global. “People need to speak with us. We are the other side and it is high time that we come to that table.”

She warned that further instability in West Asia, including a possible escalation between the United States and Iran, would have serious consequences for the entire region, including Palestine. “Instability in the region will affect the whole region, and as such, any disputes, any conflicts need to be solved around the table. Enough of the armed conflict, enough of the killings in the Middle East,” she said.

Aghabekian also sought to counter the perception of the Palestine issue as a religious conflict, stressing its political nature. “This is not a religious war. This is a war on the land and the rights of the people in the land,” she said, pointing to Palestine’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious identity.

As India deepens its engagement with the Arab world, the Palestinian foreign minister said New Delhi has an opportunity to help push the conflict toward a lasting political settlement. “If the rights of the people of the region are not respected, and in particular the rights of the Palestinians, there will be no real peace in the area,” she said.